Chapter 367: I accept a challenge, failure.

Purgatory.

No sane person would ever willingly go to this place. It was a world where people went through their fears, losses, wounds, and all negative emotions countless times.

Fear became a demon in this world, attached to visitors' hearts for either two purposes. It was either to keep the peace while players build their strength or to turn people into antagonists, hurting them and then developing their powers through fear.

Demons represented the antagonist and guardian's fears.

Harvey and Lavinia feared that their beloveds would die first before them. They shared the same demon, for they were a couple that survived the last out of everyone.

Yasir was… something else.

Ivonne was the same, for Alex shouldn't have a demon. She became his demon as per The Goddess' grace, giving him more power to have a higher chance against the antagonists.

She wanted him to punish Blackburn Blade, believing Alex would seek revenge for his sinful deeds.

"I will!" Alex lifted his hand for the crack in the dark ceiling, his desires bringing out his powers from the Avander World. It was not weird, for he was between Earth and that fantasy world.

His black wings sprouted, flapping immediately to answer his plight.

Alex flew straight into Purgatory, surprising his parents and Yasir.

"Don't! Alex!" Harvey cried, extending his hand to stop his son.

Lavinia was the same, to no avail.

They couldn't stop their son because their wounds took a toll on their bodies. Their eyes trembled from fear and pain, and Lavinia started crying as Purgatory was not a simple place.

Even if Alex somehow survived that, he wouldn't return the same.

Yasir gazed mysteriously at the young man. He didn't do anything to stop Alex. He maintained his confident expression, lips curved into a wide smile.

If Alex died, it would be another victory for him.

And if Alex somehow returned with more power, it would be… "Fantastic."

Ivonne didn't want Alex to die. She considered him more than just a friend or contractor, so she would never throw him into certain death.

The reason she told him to go to Purgatory was simple; go here and find her strength!

She wasn't aware of Yasir's concept, so she couldn't just call her power back like he had done before. In fact, Ivonne didn't even know that there was such a place between Earth and Avander World.

Harvey and Lavinia also didn't know that the interaction between the antagonist and guardian would result in such a thing.

Yasir perhaps wrote that or knew more than them.

Regardless of what was going on, Ivonne and Alex could only take risks against him, for his intent was clear.

'If he can't kill Harvey and Lavinia, he will play with them until his escape route appears on that shitty world. But he has grown too strong that even your parents no longer pose a threat to him!

He will kill them to give even more chances for the antagonist's victory!' Ivonne's voice boomed in Alex's mind.

His face scrunched with worry and resolution, his heart rapidly calming down, 'I will find a way!'

Alex learned that time in Purgatory flew differently. He believed he would find Ivonne's power fast enough to save his parents.

He always fought, so he might as well fight against time!

BANG!

Alex entered Purgatory, his mind flashing with memories from the past.

Harvey, Lavinia, and Ivonne's fears went through him, showcasing their ordeal and feelings that drove them insane and desperate.

"A foreign existence in my world… It's been a long time since I had a bold visitor," The Goddess murmured to herself, opening her eyes languorously.

She sat on her divine throne with her legs crossed, resting her slender arms on the throne's arms. She patted her throne with her finger, revealing an image of the foreign existence within Purgatory.

Alex was kneeling in one of Purgatory's rooms. He had Ivonne embracing him tightly from behind, her eyes tightly shut.

He was the same, yet he didn't tremble like his demon. In fact, Alex was dealing better with Purgatory than Ivonne!

"One of the seeds," The Goddess whispered in her divine voice, crossing her legs again, "Another sinner deceived by the failure. Bold enough to use my system, at that!"

She naturally sensed the other goddess' influence on Alex. That alone was enough to execute him in Purgatory. Yet, The Goddess didn't do it.

Her divine eyes went through Alexander Deathwill's memories, seeing his birth, life, the start of the gaming world, and the progress he went through in another world.

In those memories, The Goddess saw a flaw, "I've blessed this mortal. Why is he not using my grace?"

Alex wasn't aware of what had occurred before his birth. It was true, however, that The Goddess had blessed him, for his parents named him Alexander.

Yet, he only used a scant of his blessing. He should've inherited Harvey and Lavinia's talent for swordsmanship, yet he used just little of it!

He formed his own swordsmanship, yet it was far from the appropriate level. In a mortal world, every sword-related skill should have a hidden rating, for The Goddess' grace coursed through Alexander.

"He refused both mine and the failure's grace. He turned part of her divinity into his own, planning to develop the rest with others," The Goddess uttered in a slightly confused tone before curving her lips, "I accept a challenge, failure."

The Goddess tweaked some rules for the Avander World and Earth, "It will be a long game… Chaos shall bloom in a few years. I can't wait to participate… Ah… I just felt like a mortal… I blame you, Alexander…"

Her tone was somewhat sultry, for the lady recalled someone's face.

And then, Purgatory trembled, its powers circling around Alexander and Ivonne.

[Ivonne's previous world's strength has been fully replenished.]

[Ivonne Lv. 904 HP:??? MP:???]

"Elias Deathwill needs his sheath… You need a sword," The Goddess whispered, her red mana descending onto Alex's like a red lightning bolt.

[The Goddess has passed you The Antagonist's Sword(???)]

[The Antagonist's Sword has eaten your grace.]

[The Antagonist's Sword(???) - Devour the antagonists' demons to increase and unlock the sword's power.]

[Your and Ivonne's levels have connected.]

[The Goddess has added more experience points to match the antagonist's leader.]

[Your status has been updated.]

[Your nickname has been updated.]

[Alexander Deathwill Mao Lv. 1000(Temporary) HP: 50 000 000 MP: 35 000 000]